Ausrust 10, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
123 
to my mind the queen of Oncidiums, is here in splendid form ; last 
season its spike reached across the house, and for convenience was 
trained to the roof girder, and must indeed have been very fine. Lycaste 
Skinneri resembles the well known Phaius grandifolius in its growth, and 
was just pushing forth vigorous flower spikes. Among Cattleyas, gigas 
Sanderiana was conspicuous by its flne bold growths ; this plant last year 
produced nine of its massive and richly coloured blooms, which measured 
9 inches in diameter. C. Bowringiana, C. Skinneri, C. Mendelli, 
C. Mossise, and C. Harrisonise violacea were each in a healthy, vigorous 
state, not mere scraps but fine large pieces. Imported plants of the 
now popular autumn-flowering Cattleya labiata were noticed, some of 
which had already bloomed, others being awaited with interest, because 
of their varying character of growth. Cypripedium insigne in 7-inch 
pots were carrying twenty and upwards of their useful blooms, which 
are valuable for house decorating. Dendrobiums nobile, Wardianum, 
and Farmeri, among others, were noticeable, the plants being fine with 
an abundant promise of bloom. 
Crotons, Dracaenas, and other foliage plants and Ferns are grown 
to meet a large demand for indoor work ; while Eucharis, Dipladenias, 
and Allamandas furnish choice flowers for cutting purposes. Eucharises 
are particularly strong, and flower frequently, and for the cleaning their 
leaves no insecticide is ever employed, Mr. Edwards being of opinion 
that injury to the foliage brings on premature debility, and sometimes 
failure. Small pots of Adiantum farleyense are always a feature here, 
and a useful employment is found for them in the house, where they 
are naturally very striking. Winter-flowering Pelargoniums are given 
prominence to for cutting purposes, and Poinsettias form another of 
Mr. Edwards’ specialities; a good batch of the late blooming variety, 
judging from those now remaining, must have been very fine. In 
48-pots I noticed bracts measuring from 16 to 20 inches across, and 
very dwarf in stem. Old plants are started early, and grown vigorously 
until June, when the tops are taken off and put into small 
pots, and these plunged in a frame on a prepared manure bed when the 
•thermometer indicates a temperature of 90°, In a fortnight they are 
rooted and ready for potting, and from that time they are gradually 
exposed to light and cooler surroundings, so as to keep them dwarf. 
Two very light and well ventilated houses furnish a supply of 
Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums from the middle of June to the end of 
September. The body of the houses are filled with a double row of 
trees in pots, the lofty back walls having permanent ones trained to 
wires. All the trees are perfectly clean and healthy ; those in pots, as 
soon as the fruit is gathered, are plunged outdoors and their places 
occupied with Chrysanthemums for the winter. An excellent provision 
for increased ventilation is carried out by means of 4-inch glazed socket 
pipes, conveyed through the centre of the border from end to end. 
Upright pipes connected with this ventilating drain are placed at equal 
distance apart, and an upright one at each end outdoors forms the shaft 
for the conveyance of air into the house without any adjustment of the 
ordinary ventilators. The outside ones are each fitted with a cover, so 
that their use can be regulated with ease, and this additional volume of 
air moving from the floor of the house is of great value in summer, 
especially in such light structures. 
I was interested in the heating arrangements carried out at Spring- 
field. Mr. Edwards is much in favour of small pipes, and find by their 
use a steady heat can be maintained more easily and with less strain 
on the boilers than is the case with larger pipes. The mains are 3-inch 
pipes, and reduced to 2-inch sizes in all the latest built structures which 
the present proprietor has erected. Two tubular boilers are connected, 
so that one or both may be used as occasion demands. There are many 
other points of interest at Springfield which do credit to their owner and 
gardener, but space does not permit of further detail.—W. S. 
CTo be continued.) 
STRAINS OF GRAPES — CONTINENTAL STRAW¬ 
BERRIES. 
The French “ viticulteurs,” the nurserymen of the craft, such as 
Etienne Salomon of Thomery, have gone very exhaustively into the 
classification of the varieties of the Grape Vine. This has led them— 
as it quite naturally should, and the only wonder is that others, the 
English specialists included, have not made more of the fact—that there 
exist many different “ strains ” of the same, and chiefly of the more 
popular sorts. For instance the Black Hamburgh, or Frankenthal, 
has been found to differ in this respect from the standard at least a 
dozen times ; and the Gros Colman is classed with the French in two 
very distinct strains—the one light leaved (in colour) with large berries, 
colouring with diflSculty, and the leaves dying or ripening quicker ; 
the other darker leaved, berries smaller and colouring very early and 
quite black, I know all that the difference of soil and manuring can 
do ; but the fact of different strains of the same variety existing cannot 
be denied, and it would be more wonderful if such were not the case 
than that it should be a fact. 
I recollect reading some time ago in the Journal some queries 
about the Marguerite Strawberry. The Marguerite Libreton, raised by 
Libreton in 1856 or 1859, I do not recollect which, is a very large light 
rose and very early Strawberry, of a most regular tapering shape. I have 
seen some grown by a specialist of Brussels, now departed (De Jonghe) 
3 inches long and 2 inches across the shoulder. There were two on the 
plant which had only two or three leaves, and grown in a small pot. 
It was the best market Strawberry for forcing, but is much discarded 
now. It is not of first quality ; it mildews easily ; and the chief cause 
of its not paying is—it is soft and does not keep ; the shop people do 
not like it. 
The Strawberry best liked for forcing here is Louis Vilmorin, It 
is not an early sort, but grows very sturdy ; few leaves ; sets capitally ; 
is of dark varnished red; keeps and travels the best. By starting 
early enough and quite gradually they come as soon as any other; 
the first fruits are large. The largest Strawberry is considered to be 
Marbchal MacMahon, all the fruit comes large ; also Dr. Morel, 
which strange to say (I have been told so) forces well on hotbeds, but 
mildews fearfully if forced by hot-water heating.— Heleneveld, 
The WeathePv in London. —After local thunderstorms towards the 
end of last week, and much hail in places, a sudden change occurred. 
On Monday and subsequent days this week the weather has been of a 
tropical character, the sun being powerful and unclouded, but meteor¬ 
ologists have discovered a “ depression ” somewhere, and expect it to 
reach us in the course of a few days, 
- Dutch Hoeticultueal Society.—T he members of the 
“ Dutch Horticultural Travelling Society ” were present at the last 
meeting of the Koyal Horticultural Society at the Drill Hall on the 
8th inst. The conductor of the party was Mr. J. K. Budde, the 
Curator of the Botanic Garden, Utrecht. 
■- Veemoeel’s Eclaie. —You had better warn your readers that 
Vermorel’s sprayer cannot be used for emulsions containing soap or oils, 
minerals or others. In a few hours’ time the indiarubber organs would 
be destroyed. Mr. Vermorel in his notice points out the fact. The 
Eclair is to be used for bouillie bordelaise alone ; at any rate, never with 
any compound containing soap or oils.—H. 
-Johnson’s Gaedenees’ Dictionaey.—T he new edition of 
this work will soon be completed, the sixth part having come to hand. 
This instalment includes the portion of an article on Mushroom culture, 
and ends with a description of the genus Pleopeltis. Two more parts 
are, we believe, to be published to complete the book. 
- Death of Me, Thomas Laxton,—J ust as we are preparing 
for press we learn with much regret of the death of Mr. Thomas 
Laxton of Bedford, which occurred on Sunday afternoon, the 6th inst., 
after a distressing illness of eight weeks’ duration, at the age of sixty- 
three years. As is well known, Mr. Laxton was one of our chief experts 
in the art of cross-fertilization, and he exercised this art with remark¬ 
able diligence and success. He has added to our gardens new flowers, 
vegetables, and fruits that will long keep his name in remembrance. 
Only a few days prior to his death we were reminded of his achieve¬ 
ments in the form of a coloured plate of the new Strawberry Laxton’s 
Eoyal Sovereign—a splendid early variety, as large as Sir Joseph Paxton, 
with much of the British Queen flavour. This Mr. Laxton considered 
his masterpiece among Strawberries, and the distribution of plants, we 
presume, will be continued by his sons—the Laxton Brothers, Bedford, 
Well it will be if they have inherited their father’s skill in the work in 
which he engaged so zealously over a number of years. 
- Philosophy of Deainage. —Few cultivators understand how 
water operates in soil culture. One of its chief uses is to purify the 
soil. The roots of plants require the agency of oxygen in preparing 
food, just as much as the leaves do; and after the air has lost its 
oxygen it is impure and unfit for the use of the plant. A heavy fall of 
rain completely saturates the soil and drives out the impure air, and as 
this water passes away a new supply of air follows. In no other way 
can the soil be rendered free of impure air than by this curious process 
of Nature. In brief, says “ Meehan’s Monthly,” rain is a purifier of the 
earth. Of course the soil retains moisture, and from this moisture the 
roots subsequently are enabled to draw their supply. This is necessary, 
but air is no less necessary than the water. One of the most interesting 
treatises on the subject, and by which this paragraph has been suggested, 
is an essay delivered before the Marion County Horticultural Society 
of Salem, Oregon, by President John M. Bloss, of the State Agricultural 
College, and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, 
